HSP/GC/26/6/Add.3 Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme. Proposed work programme and budget for the biennium

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1 UNITED NATIONS HSP HSP/GC/26/6/Add.3 Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme Distr.: General 20 February 2017 Original: English Twenty-sixth session Nairobi, 8 12 May 2017 Item 8 of the provisional agenda* Work programme of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme and budget of the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation for the biennium Proposed work programme and budget for the biennium Addendum Draft revised strategic plan of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme for the period Report of the Executive Director Summary In its resolution 23/11, the Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) at its twenty-third session, in April 2011, requested the Executive Director to develop, in consultation with the Committee of Permanent Representatives, a strategic plan for the period , including a road map for the preparatory process, taking into account the recommendations of the peer review and other reviews of the medium-term strategic and institutional plan for the period , for presentation to and approval by the Governing Council at its twenty-fourth session in early In April 2013, in its resolution 24/15, the Council approved the strategic plan for the period Paragraph 95 of the strategic plan states that the plan is to be adjusted on the basis of the midterm evaluation of its implementation in 2016, the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III), entitled New Urban Agenda, and any changes in the governance structure of UN-Habitat. Accordingly, the present report sets out the draft revised strategic plan for the period , which was endorsed by the Committee of Permanent Representatives at its sixty-fourth regular meeting, on 20 March The suggested amendments respond to the New Urban Agenda and lessons learned to date in the implementation of the strategic plan. They also take into account, within the mandate of UN-Habitat, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction , the Paris Agreement on climate change and the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants. As the midterm evaluation is yet to be completed, the present draft revised strategic plan may be further updated to reflect the recommendations of that evaluation. Part I, entitled Strategic analysis, presents the rationale for the plan, highlighting the external and internal factors that shaped its content and responding to the question Why? Part II, entitled Strategic choice, presents the plan s core elements and addresses the question What? Part III, entitled Strategy implementation, describes how the plan will be implemented and addresses the question How?. * HSP/GC/26/1. K

2 Contents I. Strategic analysis... 3 A. Introduction... 3 B. Mandate of UN-Habitat... 3 C. Urban trends, challenges and opportunities... 3 D. Problems identified in the implementation of the medium-term strategic and institutional plan for E. Lessons learned from the implementation of the strategic plan during the period F. Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats... 5 G. Guiding principles of the strategic plan for II. Strategic choice... 6 A. Vision... 6 B. Mission... 7 C. Goal... 7 D. Strategic result... 7 E. Focus areas, their strategic results and scope Focus area 1: urban legislation, land and governance Focus area 2: urban planning and design Focus area 3: urban economy and municipal finance Focus area 4: urban basic services Focus area 5: housing and slum upgrading Focus area 6: risk reduction, rehabilitation and urban resilience Focus area 7: research and capacity development Cross-cutting issues F. Results framework: focus area results and indicators of achievement III. Strategy implementation Annexes A. Introduction B. Implementation strategy and phases Implementation of the strategic plan through biennial work programmes and budgets Catalytic role and partnerships Risk management C. Organizational structure and management approach D. Performance measurement Monitoring and reporting Evaluation [E. Financial and human resources F. Leading and supporting strategic plan implementation: results framework and priorities Executive direction Programme coordination External relations Management and operations I Factors shaping twenty-first-century cities and human settlements to which UN-Habitat should respond II Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats III Formal organizational chart of UN-Habitat

3 I. Strategic analysis A. Introduction HSP/GC/26/6/Add.3 1. The Governing Council of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), in its resolution 23/11, adopted at its twenty-third session, requested the Executive Director, in consultation with the Committee of Permanent Representatives, to develop a strategic plan for , taking into account the recommendations of the peer review and other reviews of the medium-term strategic and institutional plan for , for presentation to and approval by the Governing Council at its twenty-fourth session (HSP/GC/23/7). In April 2013, in its resolution 24/15, the Council approved the strategic plan for Paragraph 95 of the strategic plan states that the plan is to be adjusted on the basis of the midterm evaluation of its implementation in 2016, the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III), entitled New Urban Agenda, and any changes in the governance structure of UN-Habitat. Accordingly, the present draft revised strategic plan for the period responds to the New Urban Agenda and lessons learned to date in the implementation of the strategic plan. It also takes into account, within the mandate of UN-Habitat, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction , the Paris Agreement on climate change and the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants. As the midterm evaluation is yet to be completed, the present draft revised strategic plan may be further updated to reflect the recommendations of that evaluation. B. Mandate of UN-Habitat 2. The mandate of the programme is derived from General Assembly resolution 3327 (XXIX), by which the General Assembly established the United Nations Habitat and Human Settlements Foundation; resolution 32/162, by which the General Assembly established the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat); and resolution 56/206, by which the General Assembly elevated the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements to the United Nations Human Settlements Programme. 3. The Habitat Agenda, adopted at the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1996, specified key responsibilities of UN-Habitat in paragraphs 228 and 229. More recently, in the New Urban Agenda, adopted at Habitat III in Quito, Ecuador, in 2016, Heads of State and Government, Ministers and High Representatives reaffirmed the role and expertise of UN-Habitat, within its mandate, as a focal point for sustainable urbanization and human settlements, in collaboration with other United Nations system entities, recognizing the linkages between sustainable urbanization and, inter alia, sustainable development, disaster risk reduction and climate change (para. 165). They also invited the General Assembly to request the Secretary-General to report on the progress of the implementation of the New Urban Agenda every four years (para. 166) and further stated that the preparation of that report would be coordinated by UN-Habitat in close collaboration with other relevant entities of the United Nations system, ensuring an inclusive United Nations system-wide coordination process (para. 168). In paragraph 171, they underlined the importance of UN-Habitat, given its role within the United Nations system as a focal point on sustainable urbanization and human settlements, including in the implementation, follow-up to and review of the New Urban Agenda, in collaboration with other United Nations system entities. 4. In addition, UN-Habitat, within its mandate, will work to support other internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 70/1, entitled Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular Goal 11 (make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable), and other Sustainable Development Goals relevant to cities and human settlements, as well as relevant parts of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction , the Paris Agreement and the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants. C. Urban trends, challenges and opportunities 5. While some elements of this strategic plan represent continuity from the medium-term strategic and institutional plan for , others respond to emerging urban demographic, environmental, economic, spatial and social trends, as well as challenges and opportunities related to these trends. 3

4 4 6. Annex I summarizes the main urban trends, challenges and opportunities that are shaping twenty-first-century cities and that UN-Habitat must respond to through its strategic plan for The main challenge and strategic factor is rapid urbanization, especially in Africa and in Asia and the Pacific. Many countries find themselves unable to anticipate or plan for the needs arising from the rapid urbanization process, resulting in unplanned urban sprawl and the informal provision of housing and urban basic services. Unplanned sprawl has, in turn, increased urban risk and vulnerability, especially for people living in poverty, and contributed to climate change and reduced urban resilience. D. Problems identified in the implementation of the medium-term strategic and institutional plan for Several reviews and evaluations, including the peer review of the implementation of the medium-term strategic and institutional plan for and six-monthly progress reports, have highlighted a number of problems regarding the formulation and implementation of the medium-term strategic and institutional plan for Some of these have a strong bearing on the strategic plan for : (a) Gender, youth and partnerships were not properly reflected in all the focus areas as cross-cutting issues when the medium-term strategic and institutional plan was formulated. Gender was addressed only later, in 2009, during the elaboration of the results framework. The issue of partnerships was accommodated in one of the focus areas rather than being reflected across all focus areas; (b) The medium-term strategic and institutional plan was developed separately from the biennial work programme and budget. Its focus areas were different from the subprogrammes of the work programme and budget. Although the two documents were progressively aligned, an impression that UN-Habitat was implementing two separate documents was initially created, with the medium-term strategic and institutional plan being sometimes seen as a burdensome add-on; (c) Because of the initial lack of alignment between the medium-term strategic and institutional plan and the work programme and budget, reporting was initially complex. The medium-term strategic and institutional plan started with a set of focus area objectives and indicators of achievement that were different from the expected accomplishments and indicators of achievement in the work programme and budget. The medium-term strategic and institutional plan results framework, developed later in 2009 rather than at the beginning of the plan s implementation, came up with a different set of focus area strategic results, expected accomplishments, sub-expected accomplishments and indicators of achievement. By that time, both the and work programme and budget documents had already been approved; (d) Some of the expected accomplishments and indicators of achievement of the medium-term strategic and institutional plan formulated in 2009 were not sufficiently specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound (SMART). In particular, those on Effective advocacy, monitoring and partnerships (focus area 1), and a few in the areas of Environmentally sound basic urban infrastructure and services (focus area 4) and Strengthened human settlements finance systems (focus area 5), were not realistic enough. A number of expected accomplishments and indicators of achievement in focus areas 2 and 3, Promotion of participatory planning, management and governance and Promote pro-poor land and housing, were not specific enough; (e) A main challenge for UN-Habitat is and will continue to be the need to document social and economic changes. This is also where the learning potential lies. UN-Habitat needs to strengthen its monitoring and evaluation work in a systematic manner that takes into account the guidance of the Committee of Permanent Representatives and Governing Council resolutions. E. Lessons learned from the implementation of the strategic plan during the period A number of lessons have been learned from the implementation of the present strategic plan over the last three years ( ): (a) Involving communities in developing and managing slum upgrading and prevention interventions through what has come to be known in UN-Habitat as the people s process increases the ability of UN-Habitat-supported interventions to access government funds that are available for special groups, including young people and women. In addition, the early participation of all relevant stakeholders in such interventions provides valuable insights into a variety of urban and human settlements issues, removes barriers between stakeholders, and strengthens ownership, resulting in smooth implementation and project sustainability;

5 (b) Improved vertical and horizontal collaboration and cooperation between the branches at headquarters and the regional and country offices enhances the matrix approach of the organization. Such collaboration and cooperation is largely informal, which leaves room for strengthening formal mechanisms; (c) Collaboration with relevant research and professional institutions as well as external experts is crucial for enlarging the capacity and impact of UN-Habitat normative work in urban planning and other substantive areas; (d) Feedback from UN-Habitat training events and planning studios confirms that the emphasis placed by UN-Habitat on sustainable urban patterns (compactness, integration, connectivity, inclusivity, public spaces and mixed land-use development) resonates with the aspirations of policymakers and decision makers; (e) Municipal powers and resources, macroeconomic conditions, the nature of slums, the capacity of civil society and income levels vary significantly from country to country and city to city, and therefore a one size fits all approach does not work; (f) Identification, prioritization and implementation of quick impact investments in housing and shelter development that communities value can enhance the acceptability of project activities that may not appear to confer immediate or short-term benefits; (g) There is a need to better understand and communicate to humanitarian actors the complexities of the urban environment and the broad range of urban stakeholders, including the need to understand urban violence, land use and corruption. Experience has confirmed that the presence of UN-Habitat among primarily humanitarian agencies in, for example, emergency interventions fills a critical niche in terms of introducing sufficiently early key recovery-, stabilization- and development-oriented goals, including spatial planning, land management and tenure arrangements. The value of this lesson needs to be better integrated into the normative agenda; (h) The progressive recognition, at the global level, of the crucial importance of local governments as key stakeholders in the implementation of the development agenda, including poverty reduction and the provision of services to citizens, provides a clear opportunity for UN-Habitat to deliver on its mandate. Building on the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, The future we want, and partnering with the Global Task Force of Local and Regional Governments for the Post-2015 Development Agenda towards Habitat III has resulted in highly effective advocacy work that has promoted more confident discussion about the role of local governments in delivering sustainable urban development; (i) There has been growing recognition among key partners of the importance of engaging young people, capitalizing on the demographic youth bulge. However, inadequate knowledge about youth-led development, a lack of understanding of how to invest in and benefit from such development, as well as inadequate funding for youth programmes, remain top challenges; (j) Executive direction and leadership, programme coordination, communication, advocacy and partnerships as well as management are vital services and enablers of the implementation of the seven substantive focus areas of the strategic plan, and they should have been included therein, with clear strategic results and meaningful indicators of achievement. F. Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats 9. In a participatory exercise led by the Executive Director in 2011, division directors carried out an analysis of UN-Habitat strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT). The results of this analysis, set out in annex II to the present plan, and of the deliberations of the Committee of Permanent Representatives open-ended contact group on the strategic plan for , have provided input for the development of the strategic plan by highlighting areas that could be built on and those in need of management attention. G. Guiding principles of the strategic plan for In the light of the current mandate of UN-Habitat, the global urban challenges and opportunities, the lessons learned from the medium-term strategic and institutional plan for , and the results of the SWOT analysis described above, this strategic plan is guided by the following basic principles: (a) The plan reflects the official mandates of UN-Habitat as set forth in section I.B above; (b) While the plan reflects some continuity from the medium-term strategic and institutional plan for , in terms of focus areas and implementation approaches, it also 5

6 II. responds to emerging urban trends, challenges and opportunities, as elaborated in the Executive Director s policy statement at the twenty-third session of the Governing Council; (c) The plan reflects the need for UN-Habitat work to specialize in and focus on the subject of urbanization in order to minimize the risk of overlap among the mandates of United Nations system entities; (d) The plan prioritizes the work of UN-Habitat in order to improve focus and achieve greater implementation efficiency and effectiveness; (e) A matrix approach is adopted for implementation purposes so as to counter the silo approach that has characterized the organization of UN-Habitat work to date, as well as to achieve greater decentralization of work to the regions; (f) Gender, youth, partnerships, outreach and communication, capacity development, climate change and best practices are systematically reflected in all the substantive focus areas as important issues, while the needs of older persons, persons living with disabilities and migrants are addressed in relevant parts of the plan, in line with the 2030 Agenda s aim of not leaving anyone behind; (g) The strategic plan s focus areas correspond to the subprogrammes in the UN-Habitat biennial strategic framework and in the work programme and budget, as well as to the substantive branches of UN-Habitat, thus ensuring complete alignment between the three documents and with the UN-Habitat organizational structure; (h) The strategic plan contains a results framework, unlike the medium-term strategic and institutional plan for at the time of its adoption, thus ensuring that reporting on the six-year strategic plan and the biennial work programme and budget are unified into a single process; (i) The implementation of the strategic plan will be consistent with the New Urban Agenda with the aim of achieving the full implementation of the Agenda in the short, medium and long term; (j) The strategic plan is an outcome of both top-down and bottom-up preparation processes, combining the Executive Director s vision and strategic direction, on the one hand, with focus areas, a results framework and other components of the plan elaborated through a participatory process, on the other hand; (k) The implementation of the strategic plan will take into account the urgent need for closer cooperation and coordination with other United Nations entities with a view to avoiding overlapping programmes and activities and duplication of effort. Strategic choice 11. UN-Habitat works with Governments and relevant stakeholders to address the main challenges and opportunities affecting the sustainable development of cities and other human settlements, among them rapid urban demographic growth in developing countries, the increasing spatial extension of cities and the increasing responsibility of urban local authorities to take local action in relation to both local needs and global challenges. UN-Habitat work, which is both normative and operational, seeks to help local, other subnational and national authorities responsible for urban and human settlements issues improve the standard of living of their citizens through improved urban development, planning, management, governance and basic service delivery policies that are in conformity with the guiding principles of sustainable urban development 1 and subsidiarity. A. Vision 12. UN-Habitat promotes a clearer vision among national and local governments as well as other relevant stakeholders of the need to work towards the realization of sustainable cities and human settlements, with particular emphasis on their equal use by and enjoyment for all, as well as the promotion of inclusivity, ensuring that all inhabitants, of present and future generations, without discrimination of any kind, are able to inhabit and produce just, safe, healthy, accessible, affordable, resilient and sustainable cities and human settlements that foster prosperity and a good quality of life for all. 6 1 Guiding principles of sustainable urban development refers to the basic actions necessary for achieving socio-spatial equity, environmental safety and economic productivity in urban areas. See UN-Habitat (2009), Planning Sustainable Cities: Global Report on Human Settlements 2009, Earthscan, London, p. 4, box 1.1, for a summary of these principles.

7 B. Mission C. Goal HSP/GC/26/6/Add UN-Habitat, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and other United Nations entities, supports national, local and other subnational authorities, in line with the principle of subsidiarity, to respond positively to the opportunities and challenges of urbanization by providing normative or policy advice and technical assistance in transforming cities and other human settlements into inclusive centres of vibrant economic growth, social progress and environmental safety. 14. Just, safe, healthy, accessible, affordable, resilient and sustainable cities and other human settlements with adequate infrastructure and universal access to employment, land and basic services, including housing, water, sanitation, energy and transport. D. Strategic result 15. Environmentally, economically and socially sustainable, gender-sensitive and inclusive urban development policies implemented by national, local and other subnational authorities have improved the standard of living of people living in poverty and enhanced their participation in the socioeconomic life of the city. E. Focus areas, their strategic results and scope 16. In the light of the factors shaping twenty-first-century cities, and of the current UN-Habitat strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of UN-Habitat, as presented in annex II, four programme areas will be prioritized during , namely: (a) urban legislation, land and governance; (b) urban planning and design; (c) urban economy and municipal finance; and (d) urban basic services. 17. In the past, UN-Habitat has not paid sufficient attention to the first three areas, yet they provide important frameworks for more efficient and effective delivery of basic services, housing, and upgrading of slums, as well as for more effectively responding to both human-made and natural disasters. They may be seen as the levers for the transformation of cities towards greater environmental, economic and social sustainability. 18. The reason for prioritizing the fourth area, urban basic services, is that large numbers of urban dwellers in developing countries still lack access to adequate basic services, especially water and sanitation, but also reliable waste management services, sustainable public transport and safe, affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern domestic energy. In addition, urban populations are increasingly subject to the harmful effects of air pollution resulting from, among other things, transport activities and the continuing reliance on polluting energy sources for indoor lighting and cooking. The 2030 Agenda and the New Urban Agenda both reaffirm the need to address the provision of urban basic services, including water and sanitation, drainage, waste management, sustainable energy and urban mobility, as well as improving air quality. Owing to the enabling nature of basic services and their role in meeting direct human needs, 7 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals have a strong relationship with urban basic services. Urban basic services are also prominent in the New Urban Agenda, which contains more than 150 references to them. 19. Work in the above four focus areas will enable UN-Habitat to respond to the challenges and opportunities shaping twenty-first-century cities in a more strategic and holistic way, and also to address one of the most significant areas of need in developing countries. 20. UN-Habitat will continue to work in three additional and important focus areas, building on its past success: focus area 5: housing and slum upgrading; focus area 6: risk reduction, rehabilitation and urban resilience; focus area 7: research and capacity development. All seven focus areas will be implemented simultaneously as they are all important and closely intertwined. 21. The emphasis in all seven focus areas will be on assisting urban local authorities, other subnational authorities and central government departments responsible for urban development to put in place more effective policies, strategies, plans and implementation systems, so as to meet the needs of people living in poverty more efficiently and equitably. To achieve this, the catalytic role of UN-Habitat will need to be strengthened and the creation of partnerships at both the national and local levels promoted more vigorously. 22. In all seven focus areas, UN-Habitat will focus its work on clearly defined strategic issues and actions that have the potential to trigger or catalyse change at the urban level as well as strengthen urban-rural linkages. This will be achieved through the implementation of clearly defined projects that combine normative and operational work. In addition to meeting identified community needs, 7

8 UN-Habitat operational work will test new approaches and methods, with the lessons learned feeding back into the organization s normative work. Furthermore, the UN-Habitat organizational structure will be fully aligned with its seven focus areas and a project-based management approach will be pursued, thus ensuring greater effectiveness in strategic plan implementation. 1. Focus area 1: urban legislation, land and governance Strategic result: Local, other subnational and national authorities have established systems for improved access to land and increased security of tenure for all, particularly for women, adopted enabling legislation, and put in place effective decentralized governance that fosters equitable sustainable urban development and the improvement of urban safety. 23. Many developing countries lack effective and gender-sensitive urban land development mechanisms, legislative frameworks and governance institutions and systems. Without these, there can be no effective urban planning, economic growth and development. In addition, urban legislation in many countries is not appropriate because it is not effective in supporting the development of inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities as a result of not ensuring equal opportunity or reducing inequalities of outcome or establishing effective, accountable and transparent institutions. Furthermore, in many countries, both developed and developing, existing urban governance models are inappropriate for urban centres that have grown beyond their boundaries and coalesced into large metropolitan regions. 24. To address these deficiencies, UN-Habitat will, under this focus area, provide policy and operational support to Governments and cities with respect to urban legislation, land and governance. Building on the experience of the Global Land Tool Network, and in partnership with local government organizations, UN-Habitat will address existing urban land problems and opportunities to increase security of tenure, particularly for women, utilizing a wide range of tools, including land readjustment. Inadequacies in legislation and institutions (regulatory frameworks) affecting urban development will be addressed to enable Governments to effectively implement national urban policies that promote equality, inclusion, accountability and efficiency. UN-Habitat will also support the development of adequate legislation and governance models for inter-municipal cooperation, as a contribution to sustainable urban development at the regional scale. In addition, UN-Habitat will provide support to local governments and their networks, promote the International Guidelines on Decentralization and Strengthening of Local Authorities and on Access to Basic Services for All, and encourage transparent and innovative management, social inclusion and participation. In this manner, it will enhance the capacity of local authorities to foster equitable sustainable urban development, and fund, develop and maintain infrastructure and urban basic services. Building on the experience of the Global Network on Safer Cities, UN-Habitat will support Member States and local governments in their efforts to improve urban safety. 25. In order to enhance gender equality, specific projects designed to improve the level of participation of women in urban governance, especially at the local level, will be implemented through two of the work clusters of this focus area, Urban legislation and Local government and decentralization. Projects to increase women s access to urban land will also be implemented through two work clusters, Land and the Global Land Tool Network and Urban legislation. 2. Focus area 2: urban planning and design Strategic result: Local, other subnational and national authorities have implemented policies, plans and designs through a participatory process including all the relevant stakeholders, such as civil society, including people living in poverty, for more compact, better integrated and more connected cities that foster equitable sustainable urban development and are resilient to climate change. 26. Many cities are currently facing serious challenges of ineffective development control systems, informal and often chaotic peri-urban expansion, a proliferation of informal housing and livelihood activities, poor connectivity, traffic congestion and energy inefficiency, among other things. Housing affordability and social integration are declining, while the reach of urban planning as a tool to guide urban development and expansion has diminished over the past 25 years. Cities are increasingly facing environmental challenges, including how to curb rising greenhouse gas emissions and the increasing impacts of anthropogenic climate change. The New Urban Agenda and Sustainable Development Goal 11 both recognize the central role of urban planning and design in urban development owing to the critical importance of urban patterns and form in ensuring sustainability. 27. To address these challenges, UN-Habitat will, under this focus area, provide local, other subnational and national governments with a set of tested approaches and guidelines, and provide support for the management of growth and improved sustainability, efficiency and equity of cities and the surrounding peri-urban and rural areas. The key tool in this regard will be planning and design at 8

9 different scales in, for example, public space, the slum and the neighbourhood, at the city, regional, national and supra-national scales. This will be achieved through: (a) improved policies and legislation regarding urban planning and sustainability, based on the principle of subsidiarity; (b) increased capacities of institutions and stakeholders to undertake and effectively implement, in age- and gender-responsive as well as participatory and inclusive ways, urban and territorial planning processes at the most appropriate and adequate scale; and (c) new or transformative and illustrative urban and territorial planning and design initiatives in selected cities. 28. The focus area will contribute in particular to the implementation of targets 11.2 (by 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons), 11.3 (by 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries), 11.7 (by 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities) and 11.b (by 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and implement, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction , holistic disaster risk management at all levels) of the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as to the implementation of the New Urban Agenda. It will work towards urban planning and design reform in order to make it a more effective tool for Governments and local authorities to achieve sustainable urban development and strengthen their urban-rural linkages. The overall approach will focus on the creation of a spatial structure in cities and larger territories to facilitate sustainable urbanization and the integration of safe, inclusive, accessible, green and quality public space into policies and plans, enhancing the form, function and connectivity of the city as a whole at different scales. Special attention will be paid to promoting, within the context of decentralization and multilevel governance, a number of critical principles, such as optimizing the population and economic density of urban settlements, mixed land use, diversity and better connectivity in order to take advantage of agglomeration economies and to minimize mobility demand. In particular, the recommendations of the International Guidelines on Urban and Territorial Planning, as well as the Guiding Principles for City Climate Action Planning, will be promoted in support of the New Urban Agenda. The new approach will emphasize the need to plan: in advance of urban population growth; at the scale and taking into account the demographic realities (the youth bulge and the feminization of poverty) of the challenges; in phases; and for job creation, while respecting locally and regionally defined urban planning and design traditions. Given the need to accommodate urban extension, especially in developing countries, it is important to encourage spatial development strategies that take into account, as appropriate, the need to guide urban extension, prioritizing urban renewal by planning for the provision of accessible and well-connected infrastructure and services, sustainable population densities, and compact design and integration of new neighbourhoods into the urban fabric. 3. Focus area 3: urban economy and municipal finance Strategic result: Local, other subnational and national authorities have adopted or implemented improved urban strategies and policies supportive of local economic development, inclusive economic participation, the creation of decent jobs and livelihoods, and enhanced municipal finance. 29. An immense challenge facing cities all over the world today is how to create full employment and decent jobs for all and livelihoods for their people, including the increasing numbers of urban youth, as well as women, who are often disadvantaged by discriminatory practices. In addition, a fundamental challenge facing cities, particularly in developing countries, is their inability to mobilize adequate financial resources to meet the ever-growing demand for urban basic services. Interest in cities is increasing around the world, in part because more people are living in cities than ever before and in part because recent trends towards fiscal decentralization and globalization have highlighted the importance of cities as economic agents. 30. In order to address these issues, UN-Habitat will, under this focus area, promote urban strategies and policies that strengthen the capacity of cities to act as engines of economic development and enhance their contribution to value creation and the building of wealth and assets. It will, in particular, contribute to the formulation and implementation of effective urban strategies and policies that are supportive of local economic development, the creation of decent urban jobs, especially for young people and women, and enhanced municipal finance. Special emphasis will be placed on some of the key conditions necessary for increasing productive investment, including in green infrastructure and urban basic services, and for the generation of decent jobs and livelihoods. Attention will also be paid to local investment incentives and regulatory frameworks. It is anticipated that the creation of 9

10 decent urban jobs and livelihoods will contribute to reducing poverty and social inequalities, including gender-based inequalities, and also to improving urban safety through its social impact. One work cluster in this focus area, Youth and job creation, will promote policies that are supportive of the creation of jobs and livelihoods, especially for young people and women. In addition, UN-Habitat will assist subnational and local governments in building their capacity to implement effective, innovative, and sustainable local government financing frameworks and instruments. 4. Focus area 4: urban basic services Strategic result: Local, other subnational and national authorities have implemented policies for increasing equitable access to urban basic services and improving the standard of living among the urban poor. 31. Despite efforts being made by many Governments and local authorities to provide urban basic services, the numbers of people in urban areas without adequate access to the basic services of safe water supply and sanitation as well as safe domestic energy and public transport is increasing, partly as a result of rapid urban population growth and partly as a result of increasing poverty and growing financial resource constraints. The problem is compounded by dilapidated infrastructure, weak governance and overlapping responsibilities between different levels of government, lack of clearly defined urban development policies and legislation, weak urban planning, weak institutional capacity, inadequate resources available at the local level, low investments and lack of pro-poor financing mechanisms. In addition, new challenges are emerging; air pollution, for example, has become the greatest environmental health risk, with about 7 million deaths in 2012 alone attributed to indoor and outdoor air pollution In order to address these challenges and to contribute towards the reduction of poverty and inequalities, UN-Habitat will, under this focus area, place emphasis on strengthening policies and institutional frameworks for expanding access to urban basic services, specifically targeted at the urban poor and all other vulnerable groups. Policy and technical cooperation will be provided to local, other subnational and national authorities in partner countries to: (a) rehabilitate existing infrastructure and expand access to basic services, either by extending centralized systems or creating decentralized service centres, to keep pace with growing demand and to address climate change and risk prevention concerns, including both mitigation and adaptation; (b) ensure institutional efficiency and effectiveness in service provision and management in order to foster integrated, cross-sectoral planning at different territorial levels, facilitate partnership among various stakeholders and improve coordination between different administrative levels and partners, including for resource mobilization, and through the promotion of the International Guidelines on Decentralization and Strengthening of Local Authorities and on Access to Basic Services for All; and (c) provide adequate levels of service for the urban poor and all other vulnerable groups. The focus area will have four programmatic clusters: water and sanitation; urban waste management; urban mobility; and urban energy. 33. With respect to the cross-cutting issues of human rights, gender and young people, special attention will be paid to equality and non-discrimination in access to urban basic services, as well as to information and communication technology, especially for women, young people and other disadvantaged groups. The mainstreaming of climate change in urban basic services will pay special attention to resilience. 5. Focus area 5: housing and slum upgrading Strategic result: Local, other subnational and national authorities have implemented policies for increasing access to adequate 3 and sustainable housing options for members of different income groups of society and improving the standard of living in existing slums. 34. In both developing and developed countries, urban housing, whether for rent or ownership, is becoming increasingly unaffordable. In developed countries, young people are continuing to live with their parents for longer as they cannot afford housing of their own. In developing countries, some 881 million urban dwellers were living in slums in 2014, partly owing to the ineffectiveness of land and housing policies, among other factors. 4 Slums are, in fact, a physical manifestation of poverty and inequality World Health Organization, 2015, Health in 2015: From MDGs to SDGs, Geneva, p Adequate housing means housing that is affordable, habitable, accessible, culturally adequate, in a good location, with sufficient basic services and security of tenure. 4 UN-Habitat, 2016, Urbanization and Development: Emerging Futures, World Cities Report 2016, Nairobi, p. 58, table 3.4.

11 35. In responding to these huge challenges and in order to contribute towards the reduction of poverty and inequalities, UN-Habitat advocates a twin-track approach that focuses on improving the supply and affordability of new housing through the supply of serviced land and housing opportunities at scale, which can curb the growth of new slums, alongside the implementation of citywide and national slum upgrading programmes to improve housing conditions and quality of life in existing slums. By widening housing choices and enabling the provision of housing opportunities at an appropriate scale and affordable price, with sufficient diversity of size, price, and typology, and at suitable locations vis-à-vis access to employment and income generation, housing will directly impact the future of cities and their ecological and economic footprints. Enabling the housing sector to function is thus critical for preventing the multiplication of slums and promoting sustainable urban development. Improving housing and upgrading slums will contribute to reducing poverty and social inequalities as well as improving urban safety through social and spatial impacts. 36. Within the framework of the New Urban Agenda, UN-Habitat will initiate technical cooperation with local, other subnational and national authorities to design and implement programmes to increase the supply of affordable housing and to prevent the formation of new slums, as a viable alternative to informality, and to upgrade existing slums through a citywide slum upgrading approach. In this regard, UN-Habitat will promote the active participation of residents and their grassroots organizations in the formulation, prioritization, implementation and post-implementation phases of both formal housing development and slum upgrading. It will also promote energy efficiency and modern and renewable energy use in the urban housing sector. In addition, UN-Habitat will support policies on the social production of habitat, as appropriate, according to national legislation and standards. Furthermore, UN-Habitat will support efforts to define and reinforce inclusive and transparent monitoring systems for reducing the proportion of people living in slums and informal settlements, taking into account the experience gained from previous efforts to improve the living conditions of slum and informal-settlement dwellers. 37. In many countries, gender equity in access to adequate housing is still impeded by practices that discriminate against women and households headed by women. In order to enhance gender equality, specific projects designed to improve the access of households headed by women to adequate housing will be implemented by all three work clusters in this focus area, namely, Housing, Slum upgrading and Community development. 6. Focus area 6: risk reduction, rehabilitation and urban resilience Strategic result: Cities have increased their resilience to the impacts of natural and human-made crises in an equitable manner and undertaken rehabilitation in ways that advance sustainable urban development. 38. Against the background of increasing vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation, as well as other risk drivers, such as the consequences of poverty and inequality, unplanned and rapid urbanization, and poor land management, many developing country cities are unable to implement preparedness and risk reduction programmes, including retrofitting their infrastructure. In some developed countries, the vulnerability of many urban dwellers to natural disasters is often a result of poverty, inequality and the absence of socially inclusive policies. It is often only through reconstruction and recovery programming (after a crisis) that opportunities arise to plan out (thoroughly plan for) risk and build in resilience. 39. To address this challenge, UN-Habitat will, under this focus area, draw upon Programme-wide expertise to engage in both reducing urban risk and responding to urban crises through its Urban Resilience Cities Programme and Settlements Recovery Programme, respectively, in partnership with the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Making Cities Resilient campaign as well as other networks and communities of practice, partly within the context of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and also in response to the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants. Efforts in this focus area will address crisis-affected cities in terms of both disaster prevention and disaster response. The Urban Resilience Programme will be implemented wherever possible before disasters occur and will be a critical driver for building back better in post-disaster interventions. The Settlements Recovery Programme will operate in support of country programmes and through surge capacity deployment in the immediate aftermath of a crisis and is intended to add value to the efforts of the humanitarian community. Together with national and local stakeholders, UN-Habitat will seek the optimal means of reducing the duration of such crises and will introduce elements of sustainable, age-responsive and gender-responsive recovery through a holistic settlements approach. This will primarily be achieved through close collaboration with members of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee and non-governmental partners. Urban risk reduction and post-crisis reconstruction efforts will use five key entry points: shelter and housing; basic 11